It doesn’t matter if you live permanently in the Peloponnese or if you are here just for one summer: here is always something to discover! Today we will recommended you to visit the Ancient Messene. Elias and I work from Monday to Friday and also many Sundays. Every working day eight hours at the desk or with clients on meetings but we try to go on short or long excursions on Saturdays. This time we want to advise you to visit Ancient Messene (Messini). We visited AM three times and I am confident that more visits will be made.
Ancient Messene: the political, economic, social, religious and artistic centre of the free Messenians
Ancient Messene (approximately 25 km north of Kalamata) stands as one of Greece’s most remarkable sites, nestled in a serene valley amidst the breathtaking landscape between the Arcadian Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Originally founded in 369 BC by Epaminondas following the battle of Leuctra, Ancient Messene was a Doric Greek city-state aimed at independence from Spartan rule.
Today, it remains a site of archaeological interest, drawing visitors to explore its excavated and partially restored remnants. The historical allure of Ancient Messene extends beyond its physical ruins. Pausanias’ descriptions offer insights into its temples, statues, springs, marketplaces, and more. Particularly striking are the city’s formidable fortifications, which surpass those of any other Greek city.
The remnants of Ancient Messene include its walls, gates, theater, stadium, council chamber, and other notable structures. Ancient Messene was in antiquity the greatest and most dynamically growing centre of an anthropogenic whole that, based on its mythological, religious and heroic past, was able to evolve into an independent political entity and shape its own national identity. Don’t rush once you’re here! Let yourself be seduced by this place that bears witness to centuries of wars and invasions, yet stands as a testament to resilience and historical significance.
